New Star Trek Animated Series Aimed at Kids Is Happening at Nickelodeon

It's looking like Star Trek will soon enough go animated once again. According to a new report, CBS Television Studios and Nickelodeon are in the process of negotiations to bring a new Star Trek animated series to the latter network. Aimed at children, the cartoon series would be much more lighthearted than Star Trek: Discovery and other live-action iterations of the popular franchise. Attached to the planned project are writers Kevin and Dan Hageman, whose previous work in TV animation includes Trollhunter and Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. The two also helped develop the stories for Hotel Transylvania and The Lego Movie.

Because the project is still in the early planning stages, no plot details have yet been revealed. It's not clear if the Star Trek animated series would take place in the same universe as the live-action Star Trek shows, or if we would see any of the same characters making an appearance. Considering its target audience, it seems likely the series would invent new kid-friendly characters to be more appealing. It's noted that if the show manages to cut through all of the red tape involved to come to fruition, it would be the first new Star Trek series to premiere outside of CBS All Access. Going with a cartoon series on Nickelodeon could be strategically wise for CBS, as it would potentially help create an entirely new generation of Star Trek fans.

Adults can look forward to having their own mature animated Star Trek series as well. Back in October, CBS ordered two seasons of an animated series called Star Trek: Lower Decks, intended for mature audiences. The point of the series is to highlight the lives of some of the less important members of Starfleet, focusing solely on the support crew on the lower decks of a lesser-known Starfleet ship. Rick and Morty writer Mike McMahan is developing the project. An official premiere date has yet to be revealed, but the series will air on CBS All Access like the other Star Trek projects currently in the works.

Neither of these upcoming animated shows will be the first time Star Trek has gone animated. Following the cancellation of the original series back in 1969, the series was revived in 1973 as an animated series. Serving as a sequel to the original series, the show featured most of the prominent cast members returning to reprise their roles. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Majel Barrett all lent their voices to the show, which ultimately ran for two seasons. The show was very well received by fans and critics alike, and even managed to win an Emmy Award in 1975 for Outstanding Entertainment - Children's Series.

It's certainly a good time to be a Trekkie. In addition to the animated Star Trek projects in the works, an upcoming series starring Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard is on the way. You can check that out when it premieres on CBS All Access in late 2019. This information comes to us from Variety.